About this time of year, we experience migrating birds as they stop over in our wetlands. The bird in the foreground is either a sand or sandhill crane. They're pretty spectacular - big! I waited until it got above freezing this morning to take a walk. I figure Sue is going to call for the Colors of the Month any time now, and I'm not ready.
Yesterday morning I took my walk with the grandkids - it's part of our tradition. They like to look for chips of chert which are really quite pretty. This is what Alexia collected. You'd think they were hunting for Easter eggs. I found one! Grandma, look at this one!!
Chert is used to make arrow-heads. DS Josh found both the complete and partial arrowhead in Sage Creek, just below our house. Chert is naturally occurring here on Porcupine Mountain, and more chips wash down after each rain. Indians from Pyramid Lake passed through here on their way to summer camps to trade with other Indians in California's Sierra Valley not too far west of here. Kinda eerie. As Alexia would say, "It creeps me out." I know what she means, but I probably am more in awe.
3 comments:
You're right about the colors of March coming soon!! (I hope!)
That chert is really cool. And what a thrill to find an arrowhead. My brother found one at a farm when we were growing up and I've always been a bit envious. (Or more than a bit)
Sandhill cranes are very cool too! Nice sign of spring!!
Sue
The last of the deciduous trees are budding here. The top-grafted cherries had their first flowers open yesterday, and the late apricot down the street is in full bloom -- the scent is magical.
The Miwok who lived where I grew up in Marin traded for obsidian. Found obsidian arrowheads on Angel Island in the 60's. One of our favorite fishing spots up near Bridgeport had obsidian chips and unfinished arrowheads scattered on the ground. Definitely better than Easter eggs!
Love the crane photo -- I've never lived on their flight path but saw a flock near Sandpoint, Idaho, when we went canoeing there thirty years ago. Beautiful birds. Margolin has a passage in one of his history books where he describes the sky above the bay turning black when the migrating flocks flew overhead. Can you imagine?
Lovely and what fun to see the crane! Nifty arrowheads and chert. Arrowheads and the thought of peoples moving over vast stretches of land don't creep me out,
(but those victorian "paintings" made from hair and butterfly wings do). I'm with you, I'm in awe.
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